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July 25 2012

5:20 PM

Ernie Els has played a trio of
driving-iron style hybrids since the HP Byron Nelson
Championship

By Ryan Smithson, PGA TOUR.COM Ernie Els' belly putter
garnered a lot of attention when he used it to win his fourth major
last week, but his real secret weapon was a club Call;away designed
to replace long irons. Yep, even Els, one of the best ball-strikers
in the world, decided he needed more help in the form of a hybrid.
But not the normal hybrid. Roger Cleveland, Callaway's top club
designer, unleashed a new utility iron -- designed after the
driving irons that have been around for years -- but with a few
twists. The new iron has adjustable weights in the sole, and
perhaps just as important, can be bent like other forged irons. Els
placed the Callaway X Utility Prototype (18°, 21°, 24°)
irons his bag a few weeks ago, but it wasn't until Royal Lytham
that he had Cleveland adjust the lie angle. He had them bent a
half-degree flat, and Els went on to have one of the best
ball-striking weeks of his career. The new club has quickly made
its way into the bags of several others including Graeme McDowell,
who just added the 18-degree version, replacing a 2-iron. “I
wanted to enhance that design into a three-loft concept with a new
club design that was shallower, had a deeper CG, and that created a
higher launch angle, which is difficult to achieve in longer
irons," Cleveland said. Now, the question for the consumers: Will
Callaway's design reach pro shops? For the immediate future, the
answer is no, but Els' big win might coax Callaway to have it
available in the future.
TITLEISTS' 913 DRIVER SPREADING: Adam Scott and
True South Classic winner Scott Stallings are still playing the
older 910D3 driver, but more and more players are switching to the
new 913D prototype. Jason Bohn (913D3) had it in his bag for the
True South Classic, as did rookie Bud Cauley (913D2). Both finished
in the top five, and Cauley, all 150 pounds of him, averaged 284
yards a pop. That was good for 11th in the field.
PING ANSER READY: Ping's new adjustable driver and
fairway woods are ready to hit the pro shops. The Anser driver is
available in 8.5º, 9.5º, 10.5º and 12º lofts.
The Anser fairway woods are offered in a 3-wood (14.5º),
4-wood (16.5º), and 5-wood (18.5º). Each is adjusted
using a torque wrench to change loft and face angle.
WINNER'S BAG: Ernie Els at the British OpenDriver: Callaway RAZR Fit, 8.5°
3-wood: Callaway X-TOUR 15.0°
Irons: Callaway RAZR X Muscleback Irons (5-9, PW),
KBS Tour X-flex
Hybrids: Callaway X Utility Prototype (18°,
21°, 24°)
Wedges: Callaway JAWS (52°, 60°)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot XG #1 Belly
Ball: Callaway HEX Black Tour
WINNER'S BAG: Scott Stallings at the True South
ClassicDriver: Pro V1x, 910D3 driver (8.5°)
3-wood: 909F2 fairway metal (13.5°)
Irons: AP2 irons (4-9)
Wedges: Vokey Design Spin Milled pitching
(48°, 52°, 56°, 60°)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Newport 2 Studio Select
Ball: Pro V1x